diff --git a/backend/Dockerfile b/backend/Dockerfile
index f584588..df9b0f8 100644
--- a/backend/Dockerfile
+++ b/backend/Dockerfile
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@ RUN apk add --no-cache \
     ffmpeg \
     sqlite \
     ca-certificates \
+    mailcap \
     tzdata
 
 # Create non-root user
diff --git a/backend/handlers/settings.go b/backend/handlers/settings.go
index b550426..56000c9 100644
--- a/backend/handlers/settings.go
+++ b/backend/handlers/settings.go
@@ -39,10 +39,11 @@ func (h *SettingsHandler) UpdateSettings(c *fiber.Ctx) error {
 	}
 
 	allowedKeys := map[string]bool{
-		"theme":                 true,
-		"thumbnail_images":      true,
-		"thumbnail_videos":      true,
-		"trash_auto_purge_days": true,
+		"theme":                    true,
+		"thumbnail_images":         true,
+		"thumbnail_videos":         true,
+		"trash_auto_purge_days":    true,
+		"pinned_sidebar_expanded":  true,
 	}
 
 	for key, value := range body {
diff --git a/frontend/src/components/FileExplorer.tsx b/frontend/src/components/FileExplorer.tsx
index 7935496..135fd3a 100644
--- a/frontend/src/components/FileExplorer.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/components/FileExplorer.tsx
@@ -76,6 +76,7 @@ export default function FileExplorer({ onLogout }: FileExplorerProps) {
   const [searchResults, setSearchResults] = useState<FileItem[] | null>(null);
   const [selectedFiles, setSelectedFiles] = useState<Set<string>>(new Set());
   const [contextMenu, setContextMenu] = useState<{ x: number; y: number; file: FileItem } | null>(null);
+  const [bgContextMenu, setBgContextMenu] = useState<{ x: number; y: number } | null>(null);
   const [renaming, setRenaming] = useState<string | null>(null);
   const [newName, setNewName] = useState('');
   const [showNewFolder, setShowNewFolder] = useState(false);
@@ -109,6 +110,7 @@ export default function FileExplorer({ onLogout }: FileExplorerProps) {
       if (s) {
         if (s.grid_size) setGridSize(s.grid_size);
         if (s.trash_auto_purge_days) setTrashAutoPurgeDays(parseInt(s.trash_auto_purge_days, 10));
+        if (s.pinned_sidebar_expanded === 'true') setPinnedExpanded(true);
         if (s.pinned_order) {
           try {
             setPinnedOrder(JSON.parse(s.pinned_order));
@@ -214,11 +216,12 @@ export default function FileExplorer({ onLogout }: FileExplorerProps) {
 
   // Close context menu on click outside
   useEffect(() => {
-    function handleClick() {
+    const handleClickOutside = () => {
       setContextMenu(null);
-    }
-    window.addEventListener('click', handleClick);
-    return () => window.removeEventListener('click', handleClick);
+      setBgContextMenu(null);
+    };
+    window.addEventListener('click', handleClickOutside);
+    return () => window.removeEventListener('click', handleClickOutside);
   }, []);
 
   async function loadPinned() {
@@ -339,6 +342,14 @@ export default function FileExplorer({ onLogout }: FileExplorerProps) {
     }
   }
 
+  function handleBgContextMenu(e: React.MouseEvent) {
+    // Only show if the click was on the container itself, not on a file item
+    if ((e.target as HTMLElement).closest('[data-file-item]')) return;
+    e.preventDefault();
+    setContextMenu(null);
+    setBgContextMenu({ x: e.clientX, y: e.clientY });
+  }
+
   function handleContextMenu(e: React.MouseEvent, file: FileItem) {
     e.preventDefault();
     setContextMenu({ x: e.clientX, y: e.clientY, file });
@@ -724,7 +735,11 @@ export default function FileExplorer({ onLogout }: FileExplorerProps) {
           {/* Pinned Collapsible Section */}
           <div className="py-1">
             <button
-              onClick={() => setPinnedExpanded(!pinnedExpanded)}
+              onClick={() => {
+                const next = !pinnedExpanded;
+                setPinnedExpanded(next);
+                api.updateSettings({ pinned_sidebar_expanded: next ? 'true' : 'false' }).catch(console.error);
+              }}
               className="w-full flex items-center justify-between px-3 py-2.5 rounded-xl text-sm font-medium transition-all duration-150 hover:bg-white/5"
               style={{ color: 'var(--color-text-secondary)' }}
             >
@@ -748,6 +763,7 @@ export default function FileExplorer({ onLogout }: FileExplorerProps) {
                     pinnedFiles.map((file) => (
                       <div
                         key={file.path}
+                        data-file-item
                         draggable
                         onDragStart={(e) => {
                           e.dataTransfer.setData('text/plain', file.path);
@@ -764,7 +780,7 @@ export default function FileExplorer({ onLogout }: FileExplorerProps) {
                         }}
                         className="group flex items-center justify-between px-10 py-2 text-sm font-medium cursor-pointer rounded-lg transition-colors hover:bg-white/5 gap-3"
                         style={{ color: 'var(--color-text-secondary)' }}
-                        onClick={() => navigateTo(file.path)}
+                        onClick={() => { setActiveSection('files'); navigateTo(file.path); }}
                       >
                         <div className="w-4 h-4 flex items-center justify-center flex-shrink-0 [&>svg]:w-4 [&>svg]:h-4">
                           {getFileIcon(file)}
@@ -985,7 +1001,7 @@ export default function FileExplorer({ onLogout }: FileExplorerProps) {
         ) : (
           <div className="flex flex-1 overflow-hidden">
             {/* File Area */}
-            <div className="flex-1 overflow-y-auto p-6 relative">
+            <div className="flex-1 overflow-y-auto p-6 relative" onContextMenu={activeSection === 'files' ? handleBgContextMenu : undefined}>
           {/* Drag and drop overlay */}
           <AnimatePresence>
             {dragOver && (
@@ -1077,19 +1093,20 @@ export default function FileExplorer({ onLogout }: FileExplorerProps) {
                     )}
                     <div className="grid gap-3" style={{ gridTemplateColumns: `repeat(auto-fill, minmax(${gridSize}px, 1fr))` }}>
                       {group.files.map((file, idx) => (
-                    <motion.div
-                      key={file.path}
-                      draggable
-                      onDragStart={(e: any) => handleItemDragStart(e, file.path)}
-                      onDragOver={(e: any) => handleItemDragOver(e, file)}
-                      onDragLeave={(e: any) => handleItemDragLeave(e, file)}
-                      onDrop={(e: any) => handleItemDrop(e, file)}
-                      initial={{ opacity: 0, y: 10 }}
-                      animate={{ opacity: 1, y: 0 }}
-                      transition={{ delay: idx * 0.02 }}
-                      onClick={(e) => handleFileClick(file, e)}
-                      onContextMenu={(e) => handleContextMenu(e, file)}
-                      className={`group relative p-4 rounded-xl cursor-pointer transition-all duration-150 ${draggedFile === file.path ? 'opacity-50' : ''}`}
+                      <motion.div
+                        key={file.path}
+                        data-file-item
+                        draggable
+                        onDragStart={(e: any) => handleItemDragStart(e, file.path)}
+                        onDragOver={(e: any) => handleItemDragOver(e, file)}
+                        onDragLeave={(e: any) => handleItemDragLeave(e, file)}
+                        onDrop={(e: any) => handleItemDrop(e, file)}
+                        initial={{ opacity: 0, y: 10 }}
+                        animate={{ opacity: 1, y: 0 }}
+                        transition={{ delay: idx * 0.02 }}
+                        onClick={(e) => handleFileClick(file, e)}
+                        onContextMenu={(e) => handleContextMenu(e, file)}
+                        className={`group relative p-4 rounded-xl cursor-pointer transition-all duration-150 ${draggedFile === file.path ? 'opacity-50' : ''}`}
                       style={{
                         backgroundColor: selectedFiles.has(file.path) || dragOverFolder === file.path ? 'var(--color-accent-subtle)' : 'var(--color-bg-elevated)',
                         border: `1px solid ${selectedFiles.has(file.path) || dragOverFolder === file.path ? 'var(--color-accent)' : 'var(--color-border-subtle)'}`,
@@ -1170,6 +1187,7 @@ export default function FileExplorer({ onLogout }: FileExplorerProps) {
                       {group.files.map((file, idx) => (
                     <motion.div
                       key={file.path}
+                      data-file-item
                       draggable
                       onDragStart={(e: any) => handleItemDragStart(e, file.path)}
                       onDragOver={(e: any) => handleItemDragOver(e, file)}
@@ -1399,6 +1417,36 @@ export default function FileExplorer({ onLogout }: FileExplorerProps) {
         )}
       </AnimatePresence>
 
+      {/* === BACKGROUND CONTEXT MENU === */}
+      <AnimatePresence>
+        {bgContextMenu && (
+          <motion.div
+            initial={{ opacity: 0, scale: 0.95 }}
+            animate={{ opacity: 1, scale: 1 }}
+            exit={{ opacity: 0, scale: 0.95 }}
+            transition={{ duration: 0.1 }}
+            className="fixed z-50 w-48 rounded-xl py-1.5 overflow-hidden"
+            style={{
+              left: bgContextMenu.x,
+              top: bgContextMenu.y,
+              backgroundColor: 'var(--color-bg-elevated)',
+              border: '1px solid var(--color-border)',
+              boxShadow: 'var(--shadow-lg)',
+            }}
+            onClick={(e) => e.stopPropagation()}
+          >
+            <ContextMenuItem
+              icon={<FolderPlus className="w-4 h-4" />}
+              label="New Folder"
+              onClick={() => {
+                setShowNewFolder(true);
+                setBgContextMenu(null);
+              }}
+            />
+          </motion.div>
+        )}
+      </AnimatePresence>
+
       {/* Upload Progress Panel */}
       <AnimatePresence>
         {uploads.length > 0 && (
diff --git a/frontend/src/components/FileInfoModal.tsx b/frontend/src/components/FileInfoModal.tsx
index 9c7dafc..2968b7e 100644
--- a/frontend/src/components/FileInfoModal.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/components/FileInfoModal.tsx
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 
 import { useState, useEffect } from 'react';
 import { motion } from 'framer-motion';
-import { X, File, Folder, HardDrive, Calendar, RefreshCw } from 'lucide-react';
+import { X, File, Folder, HardDrive, Calendar, RefreshCw, FileType } from 'lucide-react';
 import api from '@/lib/api';
 
 interface FileInfoModalProps {
@@ -10,6 +10,30 @@ interface FileInfoModalProps {
   onClose: () => void;
 }
 
+function getHumanFileType(name: string, mimeType?: string): string {
+  if (mimeType && mimeType !== 'application/octet-stream') return mimeType;
+  const ext = name.includes('.') ? name.split('.').pop()?.toLowerCase() : '';
+  if (!ext) return 'Unknown';
+  const map: Record<string, string> = {
+    jpg: 'JPEG Image', jpeg: 'JPEG Image', png: 'PNG Image', gif: 'GIF Image',
+    webp: 'WebP Image', svg: 'SVG Image', bmp: 'BMP Image', ico: 'Icon',
+    mp4: 'MP4 Video', mkv: 'MKV Video', avi: 'AVI Video', mov: 'QuickTime Video',
+    webm: 'WebM Video', flv: 'Flash Video',
+    mp3: 'MP3 Audio', wav: 'WAV Audio', flac: 'FLAC Audio', aac: 'AAC Audio',
+    ogg: 'Ogg Audio', m4a: 'M4A Audio',
+    pdf: 'PDF Document', doc: 'Word Document', docx: 'Word Document',
+    xls: 'Excel Spreadsheet', xlsx: 'Excel Spreadsheet',
+    ppt: 'PowerPoint', pptx: 'PowerPoint',
+    txt: 'Text File', md: 'Markdown', csv: 'CSV File', json: 'JSON File',
+    xml: 'XML File', html: 'HTML File', css: 'CSS File', js: 'JavaScript',
+    ts: 'TypeScript', py: 'Python', go: 'Go', java: 'Java', c: 'C', cpp: 'C++',
+    zip: 'ZIP Archive', rar: 'RAR Archive', '7z': '7-Zip Archive',
+    tar: 'Tar Archive', gz: 'GZip Archive',
+    exe: 'Executable', dmg: 'Disk Image', iso: 'ISO Image',
+  };
+  return map[ext] || `${ext.toUpperCase()} File`;
+}
+
 export default function FileInfoModal({ filePath, onClose }: FileInfoModalProps) {
   const [data, setData] = useState<any>(null);
   const [loading, setLoading] = useState(true);
@@ -68,7 +92,7 @@ export default function FileInfoModal({ filePath, onClose }: FileInfoModalProps)
                     {data.info.name}
                   </h3>
                   <p className="text-xs truncate" style={{ color: 'var(--color-text-secondary)' }}>
-                    {data.info.is_dir ? 'Folder' : data.info.mime_type || 'Unknown Type'}
+                    {data.info.is_dir ? 'Folder' : getHumanFileType(data.info.name, data.info.mime_type)}
                   </p>
                 </div>
               </div>
@@ -90,6 +114,15 @@ export default function FileInfoModal({ filePath, onClose }: FileInfoModalProps)
                   </div>
                 )}
 
+                {!data.info.is_dir && (
+                  <div className="flex items-center justify-between text-sm">
+                    <div className="flex items-center gap-2" style={{ color: 'var(--color-text-secondary)' }}>
+                      <FileType className="w-4 h-4" /> Type
+                    </div>
+                    <span style={{ color: 'var(--color-text-primary)' }}>{getHumanFileType(data.info.name, data.info.mime_type)}</span>
+                  </div>
+                )}
+
                 <div className="flex items-center justify-between text-sm">
                   <div className="flex items-center gap-2" style={{ color: 'var(--color-text-secondary)' }}>
                     <Calendar className="w-4 h-4" /> Modified
@@ -117,3 +150,4 @@ export default function FileInfoModal({ filePath, onClose }: FileInfoModalProps)
     </div>
   );
 }
+
diff --git a/frontend/src/lib/api.ts b/frontend/src/lib/api.ts
index 18bf0a7..4f45e7b 100644
--- a/frontend/src/lib/api.ts
+++ b/frontend/src/lib/api.ts
@@ -152,7 +152,7 @@ class ApiClient {
   }
 
   async getExtendedFileInfo(path: string) {
-    const res = await this.request(`/api/files/info/${encodeURIComponent(path)}`);
+    const res = await this.request(`/api/files/info/?path=${encodeURIComponent(path)}`);
     return res.json();
   }